After joining the Indians organization, Lee competed in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.[4] He began his stateside professional career with the Kinston Indians in 2009, finishing the year with a 4–6 win–loss record and a 3.35 ERA in 45 appearances. He spent 2010 with the Akron Aeros, and had a 4–5 record and a 3.22 ERA in 44 games. The following year, Lee split the season between the Aeros and Columbus Clippers. With the Clippers, he had a 4–0 record and a 2.21 ERA in 25 appearances.[5]
After five games with the Clippers in 2012 and 19 in 2013, Lee was called up by the Cleveland Indians from their Triple-A affiliate Columbus Clippers on July 12, 2013, and became the tenth Taiwanese player to play in the MLB.[6] In his debut on July 14, Lee pitched 1.1 innings in relief of Ubaldo Jiménez, allowing no hits and 1 walk. He was optioned back to Columbus on July 23 and finished the season there, ending it with a 2.37 ERA.[5] Lee started the 2014 season in Columbus, but was brought up to the majors and had several stints with the Indians during the 2014 season.[7]
On December 23, 2016, Lee signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies, that included an invitation to 2017 spring training.[10] In 27 appearances for the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes, Lee registered a 5.54 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 37+1⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.[11]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 1, 2018, Lee signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. In 22 appearances for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, Lee pitched for a 3.91 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 25+1⁄3 innings pitched. On June 1, Lee exercised an opt-out clause in his contract in order to return to his home country of Taiwan and declare himself eligible for the 2018 Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) draft.[12]
Chinatrust / CTBC Brothers
Lee was selected first overall in the 2018 CPBL draft by the CTBC Brothers, and on July 10, 2018, signed to a 3.5 year deal with an annual salary of $248,000 USD plus $34,000 USD per season in incentives.[13]
On May 3, 2023, Lee suffered a broken collarbone after being involved in a traffic collision, and later underwent successful surgery.[14]
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